For quite by chance, and the creation of a company called Blizzard, fate decided I would become part of this tale. It began, well, it began as you might expect. In a podcast hosted by ustream, there lived three hunters. Not a nasty, dirty, wet podcast, full of warlocks and rogues; nor a sandy podcast with nothing but warriors and mages, this was a Hunter-podcast, and that means good lager, a warm hearth, and a trusted companion at your side.
I present to you my tale of the final Hunting Party Podcast.
All original hosts made it back. Darkbrew, Euripides and the indomitable Frostheim. They were joined, of course, by the lovely Alisaunder and ever engaging Arth. But wait, there's more! - the star-studded (bedazzled?) guest list broke all previous records:
- Synthparadox – from the Hunting Part Podcast and Call to Auction.
- BigRedKitty – The Godfather of Wow/Hunter blogging.
- Zeherah – Creator of Female Dwarf.
- Michele Morrow – Actress, gamer extraordinaire.
- RogerBrown – Hunter from Method.
- Banya – Real-life zookeeper and creator of Wow Biology 101 (HEY, THATS ME!!!)
- Matt Mercer – Voice over actor. Credits include Rexxar in Hearthstone, Norushen, General Vezax and more.
- Critho – from the World of Warcraft Community Team.
And if you've read through the list then you've seen that I WAS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE AND THAT HAS MADE MY YEAR. I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS IN EVEN A SMALL WAY AND THE HUNTER COMMUNITY IS SO AMAZING AND AWESOME AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S NEXT.
Okay, I'll settle back down for a bit. I had intended to blog during the podcast itself and I started to, but it was so much fun and so engaging I didn't make it too far. I was also participating in the HPP drinking game and that may have had a little to do with my wandering focus. But anyway, here's what I put to the page -
So, I'm listening to the Hunting Party Podcast, The 200th, here is my reaction. (p.s. I'm playing the drinking game, so hopefully this remains coherent. Starting with a Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat)
"first time listeners and last time listeners." Man, sorry if you're just discovering the podcast. It's been awesome and what a cast of people on the show today. All of the original hosts, Arth, BRK, Michelle Morrow, rexxar, and more.
Best in game memory...
Friendship Bracelets!
Sporebats!
Also, going on at the same time was the last in-game WHU event. Hunters of all levels gathered on Icecrown server. If you haven't seen any of the WHU events I highly recommend you watch some of the awesome videos put together by Frostheim of these amazing all-hunter events.
My next reaction - WHERE IN HOLY HELL IS MY HEADSET??? I was listening with speakers and I needed a headset with a mic to be able to talk. Small panic ensued, then I found it, plugged it in and - voila - I was on the last Hunting Party Podcast.
It was glorious! It gemmed for strength! It was unrepeatable in its magnificence!
But time ran on, as time tends to do, and the hosts slowly left as real life pulled them away. By the end of the postshow only 5 of us remained and no one wanted to stop talking. No one wanted to be the one to say the final goodbye. No one wanted to let it go. We reminisced and fought back the rising tide of feels and slowly, with exhaustion and inebriation weighing at our stamina, Arth played us out with some Hunter poetry. Epic and lonely and sad and wondrous. Sitting here, writing about it, I can still feel that sense of loss. The smiles and laughter and theory crafting and friendship bracelets and sporebats and uncommonly good looking hosts.
My final words are these -
Frost - I'm so glad I was finally able to say hello, even if it was to say goodbye. Thank you.
Euri and Dark - It was an honor to stand at your sides as a guildmate and to raid with such hunters. I must admit I was afraid to approach you titans of Hunterdom with your show of awesomesauce wisdom, but you made me feel welcome and a valued member of the hunter community. For that, I am truly thankful.
Alisaunder - my fellow Horde at heart and lover of Lore, thank you.
LOK'TAR OGAR!
Arth - May your next journeys take you further into the wondrous lands of geekdom.
If any of you ever have need of me, consider me a bannerman, who will gladly take up arms against your enemies. (Or, also, if you, like, need help moving or want to meet a rhino, just let me know. Doesn't have to be an apocalyptic battle against demons; I mean, it could be, I'd be there, but it doesn't have to be.)
"So, Stay thirsty my friends and remember to drink your Darkbrew Lager.
Remember to spay and neuter your Feral Druids.
And don't forget to pay your dues."